BY KATIE GAISER
Lions’ Pride Layout Editor

Ladies and gents, it’s that “I have to spend hours in the library tonight cramming a semesters worth of information into my brain while consuming 4 or more cups of coffee” time of year again; that’s right, it’s finals time!

This time of year is always very stressful and can really take a toll on a student’s physical and mental state. A lot of students are pulling all-nighters and resorting to quick caffeine fixes to keep them conscious throughout the day. Yes, caffeine, a legal wonder drug that will keep you going till you can’t go no more.

Caffeine is a natural stimulant that can be found in many common foods and beverages including chocolate, energy drinks, coffee, soft drinks, and tea. When consumed, this substance stimulates the heart and nervous system and gives a person an increased feeling of energy. Another way caffeine can also be used is to cure headaches. According to headaches.org, adding caffeine to common pain relievers including aspirin and acetaminophen not only helps the body absorb the medicine, but can also help relieve headaches up to 40 percent faster than medicines without it.

Now, caffeine isn’t so bad after all, is it? Well, not everyone can agree. There has been much debate on whether or not these short-term, caffeinated solutions to obtaining boosts of energy are in fact effective and safe. Some people can go on and on all day complaining that caffeine is a dangerous substance and should not be used by college students. Believe me; I understand where you are coming from. Caffeine can become just as addictive as other drugs, and some students even depend on it to function. But, the key word here is “some” students.

People who depend too much on caffeine to stay awake are obviously abusing it. Caffeine is something to use in moderation, not all day, every day. It is one thing to depend on coffee or tea to get you through a night in the library studying. However, it is a completely different thing to have to depend on these beverages to feel regular and function normally. If you find yourself depending on any of the above mentioned food or beverages just to feel good, you may have a serious problem. Other than that, I don’t see the harm in any of these beverages being consumed.

Caffeine is just like alcohol; do it in moderation. If you depend on alcohol to feel normal and consume it all day, every day, you are considered an alcoholic. The same should go for caffeine. If you depend on caffeine to feel normal and consume it all day, every day, you should be considered a caffeineaholic. The point is not to abuse either drug. Caffeine can be consumed in perfectly safe and healthy amounts and still do the job it’s meant to do. Not everyone who uses caffeinated substances has a problem and deserves to be lectured about it.

I do believe that caffeinated substances work to increase a person’s energy in a safe and efficient way, as long as the person consuming it has enough common sense to know when to stop.

Sometimes, putting down the beer and getting more sleep actually works! The less tired you feel, the less you have to depend on caffeine to get you through. It’s worth a non-caffeinated shot. And that’s what she said.